Duplicating machine



April 12, 1949. M. R. AVERY DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. MMG/cf /a ,4M/ev BY ,M

A TTORNEY.

April 1.2, 1949.

Filed Sept. 27, 1941 `M. R. AVERY DUPLICATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR. Ma/cf f4 A//f/QV WMM ATTORNK Patented `Apr. 12, 19,49

DUPLICATING MACHINE Maurice R. Avery, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor of one-half to Richard A. Miller, Chicago, Ill.

Application September Z'I, 1941, Serial No. 412,551 4 Claims. (Cl. lol-132.5)

This invention relates to duplicating machines of the type in which reproductions of script contained on a master sheet are produced by pressing successive copy sheets, previously moistened with volatile ink solvent, into surface contact with the master sheet.

Machines of this type ordinarily include a rotary drum for carrying the script-bearing master sheet and a coacting impression roller between which the copy sheets are successively passed, together with some form of means for automatically applying moisture to each copy sheet during advance of the latter towardand into the bight between the drum and roller.

In such machines it is important thatl the proper degree of pressure be maintained between the impression roller and drum and that this pressure be substantially uniform throughout the lengths thereof, and even more important to the production of good copies is the application of correct amounts of moisture to the copy sheets and a uniform distribution of such moisture throughout the area of each. Excess moisture materially reduces the number of copies that can otherwise be made from a single master copy, and excess moisture is also a common cause of objectionable blurring. On the other hand reduction in the amount of moisture applied greatly aggravates the serious problem of effecting uniform distribution throughout each sheet.

One object of the present invention is to provide, in a duplicating machine of the type mentioned, an improved means and method for a plying moisture to the copy sheets by which tge amount of moisture applied may bemaintain d at a minimum required for successful copying and at the same time evenly distributed throughout each sheet.

' Another object is to provide in a duplicating machine, of the type mentioned, an improved means for regulating and distributing the pressure between the impression roller and drum.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of a duplicating machine embodying the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a duplicating machine constructed and equipped in accordance with the present inven` tion.

Fig. 2. is a fragmentary front view of the impression roller and its support shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of the moistening roller and its wiper shown inFlg. 1,

*' shaft 2l journalled in and extending through the with the wiper appearing in horizontal longi tudina1 section.

Fig. 4 is a magnified fragmentary sectional view of the moistening roller and coacting pressure roller shown in Fig. 1.

The duplicating machine selected for illustration comprisesla frame I0 having upright side walls I I which provide support for a conventional rotary drum I2 journalled at opposite ends therein. The drum I2 is adapted to carry a script-bearing master sheet applied and xed to the periphery thereof in the customary manner and is in this instance manually rotated clockwise by an appropriate handle I3. y

The drum coacts with an idle impression roller I4 which in this instance is arranged beneath the drum for pressure contact therewith throughout its length. The'impression roller I4 is preferably of yieldable rubber and is supported and pressed against the drum I2 preferably by mechanism which will now be described. The mechanism shown for this purpose comprises Aan elongated carrier frame I5 which extends horizontally beneath and parallel to the impression roller I4 throughout its length. The frame I5 is provided at each end with an integral supporting bracket I 6 rockably mounted on a pivot pin I1 anchored in a side wall II of the main frame `so positioned as to permit the frame to swing vertically about a horizontal axis laterally offset from the roller I4 and frame. The frame I5 is additionally supported andpositioned by an arm I8 that extends downwardly from one of the end brackets I6 and carries a set screw I9 that bears against a cam 20. The cam 20 is carried by one end of a stub sidewall Il and provided at its other end with a knob' 22 or other appropriate device by which the cam 20 may be rotatively adjusted. The arrangement is such that by rotation -of the knob 22 and cam 20, the arm I8 may be adjusted in such direction as to elevate or depress the frame I5 toward or from the roller I4.

Each pivot pin I1 also provides support for a horizontally extended upright blade 23 rockable thereon and guided in a vertical saw cut provided in the adjacent end bracket I6 of the frame I5.

tains a longitudinally extended channel formation 29 adapted to loosely receive and position the bar 28 and having midway of its ends a transverse rib 3B spanning the bottom thereof and functioning as a. fulcrum support on which the .bar 28 is freely rockable. An intermediatexkey or lug 3| on the rib 30 loosely engages a socket in the bar 28 to retain the bar against end play.

'I'he arrangement is such that as the carrier frame I5 is urged upwardly toward the roller I4 by the reaction of the cam 20 against the set screw I9, this upward thrust is transmitted through the 'fra e I5 and fulcrum 30, equalizer bar 28, blades and bearings 25 to the roller I4 to press th latter against the drum I2. It will of course be understood that since the blades 23 are independently rockable and supported by the opposite ends of the equalizing bar 28 at equal distances from the fulcrum 30, the pressure thus developed between the roller I4 and drum I2 must be substantially uniform throughout the length of the roller I4; and that the degree of pressure thus developed may be regulated by rotation of the lmob 22 and cam 20.

In the machine shown, the copy sheets a pass from right toleft between the impression rpller I4 and drum I2 and ultimately enter a tray 32 provided therefor. Before entering the bight between the roller and drum, each copy sheet is automatically and-progressively moistened preferably by improved means, such as now will be described. l

The moisture applying means shown includes a moisteni g roller 33, journalled at opposite ends in the side walls II of the main frame, and a coacting pressure roller 34 arranged therebeneath. The moistening roller 33 is driven in the same direction and at the same peripheral speed as thedrum I2 through an appropriate gear train connected with the drum and including an intermediate gear 35. The rollers 33 and 34 are arranged to receive the copy sheets therebetween and to feed them into the receiving bight between the drum I2 and roller I4.

The pressure roller 34 is preferably of yieldable material, such as rubber, and is journalled at opposite ends in anti-friction bearings 38, each bearing being seated upon one end of a lever 31 rockably supported intermediate its ends upon a pivot pin 38 anchored in a side Wall I I of the main frame and connected at its other end to a tension spring 39 by which the roller 34 is urged upwardly into light pressure contact with the roller 33.

The moistening roller 33 is preferablyof metal or some equivalent hard non-absorbent materiah It is provided with a multiplicity of closely spaced minute pits or ndentations 40 uniformly distributed through its cylindrical periphery and adapted to receive, transport, and deposit the required moisture onto the copy sheets during their passage between the-rollers 33 and 34. Provision is made for supplying moisture to the roller 33 and ,A

for removing therefrom practically all moisture except that -lodged in the several pits 40 in advance of the contact between roller and sheets. so that as each sheet passes below the roller 33 it absorbs from the roller only that moisture contained in the several pits. The multiplicity of pits thus serve as a meter and accurately determine the amount of moisture received by each sheet'nd also, by reason of their uniform distribution, insure a uniform distribution of moisture throughout the sheet. In other words each of the multiplicity of pits empties its minute charge of liquid onto the sheet at closely spaced localized points on the sheet, and these deposits promptly spreads and commingles to effect a uniform distribution of moisture throughout the sheet. In this way the amount of moisture applied is eilectively limited to the minimum requirements for good copying.

Liquid may be supplied to the roller 33 in various ways. In the machine shown it is supplied from a reservoir 4I seated in the bottom of the main frame I0 at the rear thereof and containing a conventional piston-and-cylinder pump 42 having the usual intake and exhaust valves 43 and 44, respectively. *In this instance a spring 45 'urges the pump piston in a direction to effect a delivery stroke, the return or idle stroke being effected by prises a bellcrank 46 having one arm-connected to the piston rod4'I andthe other arm 4l disposed within the path.V of an actuating pin 4,3. The pin 49 is carried by the 'lower end of a lever 50 rockably supported on-a, pivot pin 5l in the side wall ll and havingaca'm roller 52 von its other end disposed'.tocoactwitha 'camy 53 which is connected torotate.,WiiihtheV drum ,I2. The cam roller 52 is `held'-"against the camj53 by a strut 54 connecting the leverv' to a lever 55 which is urged by'a-spring'r56 -to swingit and the lever 50 toward the left (Fig. 1). The lever 55 may be utilized to operate a counting mechanism or some other auxiliary not shown.

Liquid is supplied from the reservoir 4I to the roller 33 through appropriate tubing 5l leading from the discharge valve 44 ofthe pump to a tube 58 disposed above the roller 33 and having an appropriate discharge port or ports through which the liquid is discharged onto the front of the roller. The amount of liquid supplied by the pump may be modified by regulating the delivery stroke of the pump. In this instance this is accomplished by a stop member in the form of a roller 59- carried by an arm 60 depending from the bellcrank 46 and disposed to strike a cam 6l arranged therebeneath to limit the down stroke of the bellcrank and pump piston. Like the cam 20, the cam 6I is carried by one end of a stub shaft 62 journalled in and extending through the side Wall II and equipped at its other end with a knob 63 or other device by which the shaft and cam may be manually rotated. The stroke of the pump may thus be readily regulated by rotative adjustment of the cam 6I in such manner .as to determine the point at which the down stroke of the bellcrank terminates.

The means shown for removing from the roller 33 all moisture except that contained in the pits therein comprises a wiper of rubber or other ilexible non-absorbent material extending lengthwise in front of the roller and having a lower wiping edge 64 in pressure contact therewith substantially throughout the length thereof. A longitudinal channel 65 formed in the wiper above the edge 64 permits free entry of liquid from the tube 58 to the roller 33 between the front of the roller and the wiper, and vertical webs E6 at the ends of this channel make contact with roller 33 and act as dams to prevent the escape of liquid from -this channel -onto a copy sheetl below. Ports adjacent the ends of the channel 65 communicate with drain tubes 61 to permit excess liquid in the channel to escape and be returned to the reservoir 4I. In this instance each drain tube 6l is disposed in discharge into a cup 6B having a strainer 63 therein and connected through appropriate tubing I8 with the reservoir 4I.

the liquid o! The tube 58 is preferably arranged to discharge liquid onto the front of the roller 33 intermediate the ends thereof so as to insure that all of the liquid enters the channel 65 between the end webs 6B thereof, and a shield 1I overlying the tube 58 and wiping against the upwardly moving rear face of the roller 33 insures against loss of liquid past that side of the roller. y

It will be noted that the lower edge 64 of the wiper and the vertical end webs 66 thereof cooperate with the front face of the roller 33 to retain a small longitudinally extended body of liquid thereagainst, the level of this liquid being determined by the positions of the drain ports and tubes 61, thereby insuring that all the pits in the roller surface receive their full share of liquid before they pass downwardly past the wiping edge 64 and into contact with the copy sheet. An effective distribution of the vliquid across the copy sheet is thus assured.

In the machine shown, the wiper is seated in a shallow, longitudinally extended box-like structure 12 rockably supported at its ends upon pivot pins 13 adjacent the upper edge thereof and anchored in the adjacent ends of an enclosing boxlike structure 14. The structure 14 is shown rockably supported at its opposite ends by pivot pins 15 disposed adjacent the lower edge thereof and anchored in the side Walls H of the main housing.y

A spring 16 Within the structure 14 bears against the lower edge of the structure 12 to force'the wiper 64 against the roller 33.

Various changes may be made in the embodil ment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing thev advantages of the` invention appended claims.

I claim: 1` In a duplicating machine the combination as defined in the of a roller having a substantially cylindrical pitted surface for contact with a copy'A sheet, arubber-v like wiper extending lengthwise of saidrollerand in advance of the zone-l': of contact between said surface and sheet, means` y I for supplying moisture to said surface in advance contacting said surface of the zone ofA contact between said wiper and surface, and means on said Wiper coacting with said surface to limit the spread of moisture lengthwise of said surface.

2. I n a duplicating machine the combination of a sheet moistening roller having asubstantially" cylindrical pitted surface for contact with the vupper surface of a copy sheet, means includingff a liquidreservoir for supplying moisture to said v surface in advanceof the zone of contact be-` tween said surface and sheet, wiper means coacting with said roller to determine the amount 4u Number of moisture transmitted from said roller to the sheet, and means for returning excess moisture to said reservoir.

3. In a duplicating machine the combination 5 of a sheet moistening roller having a substantially cylindrical pitted surface for contact with the upper surface of a copy sheet, means including a pump and reservoir for supplying moisture to said surface in advance of the zone of contact l0 between said surface and sheet, means for regulating the rate of simply of moisture to said surface, wiper means coacting with said pitted surface to determine the rate of transmission of moisture from .said surface to the sheet, and

1'5 means for returning excess moisture from said surface to said reservoir.

4. In a duplicating machine the combination of a rotary drum for carrying a master sheet,

a coacting impression roller for pressing a copy 20 sheet against the master sheet, a carrier extendizing bar interposed between said carrier and said elements, said bar, being fulcrumed intermediate its ends insaid carrier with its ends in supporting engagement with said elements, and lcam means operable .on said carrier to force the same toward said drum and thereby develop pressurecontactbetween said roller and drum.

MAURICE R.- AVERY.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record .in the l file of this patent:l

' y UNITED/STATES PA'rEN'rs4 iblame;r f Date i 116,193 Rhell Apr. 18,v 1816 2,072,534* Terry Mar. 2, 1937 2,094,348 l Carlson Sept. 28, *193'1j l"2,135,824 Marchev NOV. 8, 1938 2,142,666v Buoy. Jan. 3, 1939 2,157,385 .Gessler etal May 9,1939

2,161,795 .Benello'v a June 13,1939. 2,185,682 z Pittman -4.----- Jan. 2,1940 2,226,086 Wilkinson Dec. 24, 1940 2,267,982 -Kokay Dec. 30, 1941 v 2,292,569j yKing; Aug.11,.1942 12,293,690, Harrigan Aug. 18,- 1942 Re. 19,951 Storck ---i Apr. 28, 1936 5 FOREIGN ATENTS Number Co y Date 187,768 Switzerland Nov. 30, 1936 

